TMJ / Jaw Pain
TMJ physical therapy treats the muscles and joints around the jaw when you have jaw pain, clicking or popping, locking, or trouble chewing. It often works alongside a dentist. Call PAR Physical Therapy in Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet, South Carolina to ask whether a therapist on our team treats TMJ.
Request an Appointment Call Myrtle Beach Call Murrells Inlet
What the TMJ is, and what TMD means
The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is the hinge where your jaw meets your skull, just in front of the ear. You use it every time you talk, chew or yawn. TMD, short for temporomandibular disorders, is the name for problems in that joint and the muscles that move it.
Symptoms people notice
You may have one or several of these.
- Jaw pain when chewing
- Jaw clicking
- Jaw popping
- Jaw locking, or lockjaw
- Ear pain without an ear infection
- Headaches near the temples
- Neck tightness
Why a jaw starts to hurt
Several things often pile up.
Clenching and grinding
Clenching jaw muscles or teeth grinding at night (bruxism) overloads the muscles and the joint.
Stress and posture
Stress makes people clench. A forward head position adds strain, and the neck and jaw share muscle links. See Neck Pain.
Injury and arthritis
A blow to the jaw, or wear in the joint, can cause pain and clicking.
How physical therapy works with your dentist or night guard
We do not replace your dentist. We add the movement and muscle side of care.
- Your dentist handles the bite and any night guard, and we treat the muscles and joint with their plan in mind
- Jaw mobilization and jaw exercises to improve opening and control
- Posture and neck treatment, since the jaw and neck work together
- Relaxation and habit training to catch daytime clenching
- Headaches that start in the jaw are part of this plan; other headaches are on headaches and migraines
What a TMJ session involves
Expect a conversation about when the pain started, then a check of how wide your jaw opens, how it tracks and which muscles are tender. Treatment may include hands-on work around the jaw and neck, exercises, and habit coaching. Some TMJ therapists also do gloved work inside the mouth. If that could help you, your therapist explains it first and you decide. Ask us when you call whether that is part of what we offer.
Related care
TMJ care in Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet
Call either clinic and ask whether a therapist on our team treats TMJ. Call either clinic or request an appointment. Same-day appointments are possible, and we accept most insurance plans.
We see patients in Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.
Request an Appointment Call Myrtle Beach Call Murrells Inlet